Exports of leather and footwear from Vietnam touched US$ 10.3 billion during 2013, indicating an increase of 18 percent compared to 2012, as per the data released by Viet Nam Leather and Footwear Association (LEFASO).
According to the LEFASO data, of the total $10.3 billion exports, footwear exports amounted to $8.4 billion showing a rise of 15 percent compared to 2012, whereas exports of leather handbags and suitcases touched $1.9 billion, indicating a surge of 26 percent year-on-year.
The US was the main destination for leather and footwear exports from the country, with Vietnam exporting leather and footwear worth $3.46 billion to the US in 2013, accounting for 33.6 percent of the total. Of the $3.46 billion exports to the US, footwear exports amounted to $2.64 billion, whereas handbags and suitcase exports totaled to $819 million.
Around 31 percent of the total leather and footwear exports from Vietnam were destined to the European Union (EU), with the country exporting leather and footwear worth $3.41 billion to the EU. Of the total $3.41 billion exports to EU, footwear totaled $2.88 billion and leather handbags and suitcase exports touched $530 million.
As per the LEFASO data, other countries to which Vietnam exported leather and footwear during 2013 included the UK, Japan, Germany, Belgium, Canada, Chile, Italy, China, Finland and Korea.
In addition to these countries, Vietnam also explored newer markets for leather and footwear such as Russia, Eastern Europe and the Middle East during last year.
